HMGA1 correlates with advanced tumor grade and decreased survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Alexandra C. Hristov, Leslie Cope, Francescopaolo Di Cello, Marcelo Delos Reyes, Mansher Singh, Joelle A. Hillion, Amy Belton, Biju Joseph, Andrew Schuldenfrei, Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue, Anirban Maitra, Linda M.S. Resar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a common and almost uniformly fatal cancer, little is known about the molecular events that lead to tumor progression. The high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) protein is an architectural transcription factor that has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of diverse human cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In this study, we investigated HMGA1 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines and surgically resected tumors to determine whether it could be a marker for more advanced disease. By real-time quantitative RT-PCR, we measured HMGA1a mRNA in cultured pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines and found increased levels in all cancer cells compared with normal pancreatic tissue. To investigate HMGA1 in primary human tumors, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of 125 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 99 precursor lesions (PanIN 1-3). We found nuclear staining for HMGA1 in 98% of cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but only 43% of cases of PanIN precursor lesions. Moreover, HMGA1 immunoreactivity correlates positively with decreased survival and advanced tumor and PanIN grade. These results suggest that HMGA1 promotes tumor progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and could be a useful biomarker and rational therapeutic target in advanced disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)98-104
Number of pages7
JournalModern Pathology
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • HMGA1
  • Immunoreactivity
  • Oncogene
  • Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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